Tree holder



Jan. 5 1926. 11,568,758

J. D. MALCOLM TREE BOLDER Filed April 11,- 1925 race n to: JUMES fl /70/0//77 Patented 5 I UNITED STATES D. 141.0011, 01 SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

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Application fled April 11, 1985. Serial No. 22,314.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES D. MALCOLM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in Spokane County,and State of \Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tree Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My. present invention relates to 1m rovements in tree holders of the type a apted for sup orting Christmas trees and other similar evices or articles.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wh ch issimple in construction and inexpensive in cost of production, and adjustable to accommodate various sizes of trees. The device may with facility be, adjusted to form a rigid and stable foundation and support for a Christmas tree or similar article.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustratedtwo forms of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to the best modes I have so far devised for the ractical application of the principles of my invention.

Fi re 1 is a perspective view of a tree holder embodying my invention.

Fi 2 is a sectional view as at line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a persipgfcltive view of another form of device em ying my iDVGDtIOH:

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view as at line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In carrying out my invention, I utilize four metal plates, 1,2, 3 and 4, which in Figs. 1 and 2 are channel lates having tapered outer ends 5, arrange in parallel pairs, and designed to form a space and clamp about the base of the Christmas tree. The inner ends of the plates form a square or rectangular space, and these inner ends of the plates frictionally engage the surface of the tree or other object to hold the latter in upright position.

These metal plates are struction, and each plate is provided with a lon itudinal slot 6 extending outwardly from 1ts inner end. Around the slotted portion of the late the material is pressed out to form a iitteral groove 7 At the inner end of each plate an arm 8 is hinged or pivoted at 9, and this hinged arm is adapted of duplicate conto beturned at right angles to the plate, as shown. The angular arm on one plate is adapted to engage an adjoining late, and for this pur ose the arm is provi ed with a longitudlnal y extending Ilb 10. This rib has a sliding fit in the longitudinal groove 7 of the adjoining plate, and it will be apparent that one plate may be adjusted longitudinally of the plate with which its ribbed arm engages. By this means the four plates may be adjusted to vary the size of the central space in which the tree is clamped.

For securing mentary plate. Each arm has a bolt hole 11 and a bolt 12 with a head 13, the latter seated within the longitudinal rib, and the bolt extends through the 'slot 6 of the grooved plate. A wing nut 14 on the bolt 12 is used to clam the plate and arm together, as indicate in Fig. 2.

The arms are of channel plates, and their upper and lower flanges, through which the hinged pins pass, are located between the u per and lower flanges of the channel p ate. By the connection of the rib in the groove, t e adjoining plates and arms are rigidly secured together to provide a stable foundation.

When not in use the wing nuts and bolts may be removed, the plates separated, and their arms-turned out in alinement therewith, and then the four plates may compactly be arranged for storage.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown another form of my invention, wherein the hinged arms are omitted. I use four plates 15, 16, 17 and 18, which are of I-shape in cross section. At their inner ends the upper and lower flanges of the plates are cut away, as at 19 and 20, so that one plate may be disposed at right angles to another plate, and the first plate fits snugly against the web of the second plate, as shown inFig. 4. At its inner end each plate has a lateral lug or perforated boss 21 in which a bolt 22 is carried. This bolt has a head 23 in a recess 24, which is formed at the end of a raised rib 25 that extends longitudinally of the plate. The rib is slotted at 26 to accommodate the bolt 22, and a wing nut 27 on the bolt is used to clamp a pair of annularly arranged plates to ether, as shown in Fig. 4. In this form 0 the invention, the

the plates in rigid relation, each angular arm is clamped to a comp1e-- this connection, and throu h plates are all of identical size and shape, and as in'the first form, the elements are all interchangeable.

In both forms of the invention the elements forming the support may be stamped from suitable materia, by the use of machmes adapted for the purpose, and as all of the elements are standardized, it will be apparent thateconomy and rapidity in production will be insured. By standing the plates in vertical position on edge, and arranging them in the four various planes, a wide area is secured for the supporting base of the Christmas tree, and the tree is prevented from accidental toppling over.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tree holder comprising a series of angularly disposed lates each having a longitudinal groove ormed therein, a ridge on the opposite side, said ridge being longitudinally slotted, interlocking members car ried by the ends of said plates for interlocking engagement with the cove on an ad- JOIIllIlg plate; securing b0 ts at the end of each interlocking member for engagement through the ridge slot of an adjoining plate and a clam nut on each bolt for engagement over t e ridge of the connected plate.

2. A tree holder comprising four angularly disposed plates, each having a hinged arm, said plates having grooves and slots, said arms raving complementary ribs and bolt holes, and a bolt for each plate having a head and clamp nut.

In testimony whereof I afiix m si ature.

JAMES D. Mic LM. 

